In hindsight, it's clear that Campbell's first hesitations gave way to a revolutionary perception that aimed to reshape the very essence of James Bond. As Bond navigated through perilous journeys, fraught with both external and internal challenges, Craig's portrayal garnered praise, culminating in a narrative arc that saw a more human Bond, a character who had evolved through trials and heartaches, finally finding solace in No Time to Die. This bold reimagination of the spy not only propelled the franchise into a new era but also demonstrated the immense potential that lay in breaking away from established norms. So I just thought about that for a minute and apart from that, absolutely it was always him. Daniel was obviously tougher and ruggeder, but he wasn’t a traditional handsome guy. All handsome guys, all sexy, all very attractive to women and so forth. My only reticence with Daniel… he was really a superb actor, there’s no doubt about that… it was the fact that with people like Sean Connery, Roger Moore and Pierce Brosnan was that they were all traditional looking Bonds.

Craig, with his distinctive, grittier disposition, seemed to divert from the established archetype of a Bond who was a paragon of male attractiveness. Despite acknowledging Craig's undeniable prowess as an actor, Campbell was somewhat apprehensive, given that Craig's rugged appearance starkly contrasted the traditionally handsome countenances of previous Bonds, embodied by the likes of Sean Connery, Roger Moore, and Pierce Brosnan. Reflecting on the initial stages of the renowned Casino Royale, Campbell candidly opened up about his reservations concerning Craig stepping into the monumental role of Bond.

Daniel craig james bond casino royale